Naomi Osaka named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year

U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka was among five athletes named as Sports Illustrated Sportspersons of the Year.

While winning the Open a second time, coming from behind to beat Victoria Azarenka, was a news worthy accomplishment, it was probably what the Japanese American chose to wear that brought her the most attention.

The September tournament was occurring in the middle of a pandemic and emotions ran high after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers. In the context of a national racial reckoning, Osaka felt compelled to make a statement.

Tennis legend Martina Navratolova wrote about Osaka for SI:

"But in 2020 she also became a huge force off the court. Naomi came to understand the power of fame and learned how to use it for the greater good. How cool is that? She used her platform to raise awareness of violence against Black Americans by the police and others and to foster the conversation about how to combat it.

"By wearing seven masks at the U.S. Open— with a new one for every round, each honor­ ing a different Black victim of police violence or a racist attack—Naomi made an extremely powerful statement. Every time she walked out to play people were talking about which name was going to be on the mask. Breonna Taylor. Elijah McClain. Ahmaud Arbery. Trayvon Martin. George Floyd. Philando Castile. Tamir Rice," Navratalova wrote.

Naomi Osaka's masks that she wore during the US Open stirred a conversation no racial injustice.

By her political acts, she forced the network announcers to tell the story of each victim of racial injustice, educating the announcers but the millions of tennis fans watching the U.S. Open.

Asked by a reporter what message she wanted to send, Osaka responded: “Well, what was the message that you got was more the question? I feel like the point is to make people start talking.”

The other athletes that Osaka will share the annual honor are Brianna Stewart, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes.

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UPDATED: Dec. 8, 2020 to include quotes from Naomi Osaka.